Amateur Reining

Finally Caught Gold

She says she’s been chasing the gold for 30 years, and finally she’s caught it.

Lindsay Wadhams of Pueblo, Colorado, and Spursuasion had crossed paths for years, but last year, Lindsay finally got the chance to buy the horse that would take her to her first world championship.

Spursuasion, by Ray Gay Quixote and out of Mist N Smoke by Doc Tom Tucker, has had his share of success in the show pen, and so has Lindsay, but on November 8 the duo stepped up to the plate in amateur reining.

All week, Lindsay and “Booger,” a 2001 sorrel gelding bred by Debra and Dorn Parkinson of Prescott, Arizona, have been practicing under the tutelage of Corey Cushing of Scottsdale, Arizona.

“Booger wears out pretty easily, so we do little spurts of exercises with him,” she explains. “All year long I’ve just been riding for myself and trying to do the best I can and just make every run better and better.

“I’ve waited 30 years for this, so it’s pretty exciting!”

In years past, Lindsay’s husband, AQHA Professional Horseman Jay Wadhams, and AQHA Professional Horseman J.D. Yates had tried to clinch a Farnam Superhorse title on Spursuasion. So what the future hold for Booger and the Wadhams?

“We rope on him, too,” she explains. “Maybe next year we’ll bring him back in some of the roping events and cow horse and reining again. Maybe we’ll eventually run for the Superhorse one more time.”

When it comes to thanking her support staff, Lindsay has got a long list.

“(I have to thank) everyone who has helped me get here: my husband; Corey; my trainer back home, Blue Allen; and Shadd Parkinson, who sold me the horse and helped me along the way as well.”

But there are two people who Lindsay is especially grateful to share her first world championship with.

“My parents have been with me through everything and they’re here – that made it really, really special,” she says, her voice thick with emotion. “My family supports me 100 percent.”

Lindsay Wadhams of Pueblo, Colorado, piloted Spursuasion to a score of 218, which earned them the world championship in amateur reining at the 2011 AQHA World Show. (Journal photo).